Folder for heavy fabrics.



G. M. HORTON. FOLDER FOR HEAVY FABRICS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 2a, 1913.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

A TTORNEY C. M. HORTON. FOLDER FOR HEAVY FABRICS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23 Patenped Nov. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w 8 8 M U W ATTORNEY THE NORRIS PETERS CO" PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. HORTON, 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FOLDER FOR HEAVY FABRICS.

Application filed. May 23, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. HoR'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folders for Heavy Fabrics, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates particularly to an improvement in folding devices adapted to fold heavy fabric strips and to present the folded structure to the stitch-forming mechanism of a sewing machine in the production of canvas belts and the like.

In its preferred embodiment the device consists of a series of spaced folding members formed of narrow metal strips bent to the desired shape, the first members of the series being adapted to partially fold a fabric strip while maintaining its walls in spaced relation and the final member of the series being adapted to draw together the walls of said strip to complete the folding operation. Said folding members are connected and held in register with each other by means of connecting rods which pass through brackets secured to the outer face of each member, the arrangement being such that the members may be given a limited relative adjustment upon said rods. The folding members are shaped to bend a fabric strip from each edge simultaneously toward its center at successively increasing degrees, each member comprising segmental centerguide' portions and segmental edge-guide portions, the guide portions of successive members decreasing in segmental area to successively increase the degree of fold. One member carries a tongue, provided at its end with edge stops, which is adapted to guide the edges of the fabric strip to a point in proximity to the center thereof and to hold said edges in alinement. The final member of the series is shaped to impart a fold centrally of the strip and at points intermediate its center and each inturned edge. The device produces a folded structure formed of four superimposed plies lying in the same plane, the edges of the strip being inturned, alined and abutting one fold. The device also comprises means for folding two fabric strips simultaneously to form a six-ply structure, the second strip being half the width of the first strip.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Serial No. 769,388.

Such construction includes means for centering the second strip with respect to the first strip before the final folding operation, which operation draws together the walls of each strip to fold the same at the center thereof, and to fold the first strip at points intermediate its center and each edge, said gdgps abutting the second strip at its central o In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the folding device. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the forward members of the device as applied-to a Singer belt sewing machine. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the bed-plate, work-guide and guide-rod of a Singer belt sewing machine, showing the position of the folding device when applied thereto. Figs. l, 5, 6, 7, S and 9 are end views of the folding members, showing in section the position.

of two fabric strips during the successive folding operations.

In the present embodiment of the invention, sir; folding members are employed, being formed of narrow metal strips bent to. the desired shape. The outer face of each member at the center and sides thereof is provided with brackets 1, adapted to receive connecting rods 2, the said members being secured against movement upon said rods by means of set-screws 3, which permit a limit-' ed relative adjustment between the same. Each member, with the exception of the final folding member, is formed with a segmental center-guide portion 4, and with segmental edge-guide portions 5, the guide portions of the successive members decreasing in segmental area to successively increase the degree of fold. The member A is provided at each end with a bracket-seat 6 formed with an opening through which passes rod 7, said bracket-seat being confined between nuts 8 secured upon each end of said rod. By the means just described the ends of member A. may be given a slight adjustment toward or from each other, to increase or decrease the degree of fold imparted by such member, the rigidity of member A. being maintained throughout such adjustment.

Folding member 13 is provided in the present instance with edge-stops 9 carried by collars 10 which are adjustable upon the edge-guide portions 5 of said member, said collars being secured in adjusted position upon the said member by set-screws. The function of edge-stops 9 is to center the fabric strip a with respect to its line of ultimate central fold. Member 13 also is provided with auxiliary guides 11, which are used in the production of a six-ply structure. Each auxiliary guide consists of a metal bar connected to the outer end of member B and bent toward the inner face thereof, each being provided in proximity to the latter, with a curved guide portion 12 upon which is adjustably secured an edgeguide 13 which is closed at one end to atford a stop for the strip. Each edgeguide 13 is provided with a collar. carryin a setscrew to secure the said guide in adjusted position. The auxiliary guide serves to properly position a secondary fabric strip Z) with respect to the arimary strip, during the formation of a six-ply structure. Said auxiliary guide may be carried by member 13 or a, succeeding member, as desired.

The member is adapted to receive the fabric strip or strips delivered by member B and to increase the degree of fold iniparted by member B, as will be understood without further explanation.

In member I) the edge-guide portions are formed separately from the center-guide portion 4: of the member, the ends of the latter extending in a horizontal plane beyond the edgeguide portions, where they are rigidly held by .a connecting rod ltl. Each edgeguide portion 5 of member I) is connected to a bent arm 5 carried by collar 15, which is adjustably secured upon one of the horizontal arms of the center-guide por tion 4. In member I) the edge-guide porticns may be moved bodily upon the centerguide portion to decrease or increase the degree of fold.

Member E is formed substantially similar to member ID, being adapted, of course, to increase the degree of fold. Member E is provided with an edge controlling tongue, which serves to guide the edges of the strip to a point in proximity to the center thereof, and to so control said edges that the same, when delivered to the final folding member F, are maintained in alincmeut. In the present instance, the horizontally extending arms 16 of member E are connected at their ends by a rigid bar 17, midway of which is secured, by means of brackets 13, the controlling tongue 19, at the end of avliieli is formed, above and below the body of the tongue, seats or stops 20 for the edges of the strip. Such construction enables the production of a folded structure in which the inturned edges of the strip, abut the central fold in perfect alinementa result necessary in the production of a fabric belt to avoid the formation of a soft edge,

which would permitthe belt to stretch at such point thereby causing the same to shi ft laterally on the pulley and finally to leave it. Member E, like member D, is provided with separately formed edge-guide portions, which are adjustable upon the horizontally extending arms 16 of such member.

The fabric strip passes from member E to member F, which latter member imparts the final fold. Member F in its action is similar to a drawing die, its function being to draw together the walls of the partially folded strip from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 9. Such member is formed of a single U-shaped metal strip 21 connected at its ends by a bracket Said member is adjustable to various widths of fabric by means of edge guiding stop 23 which slides upon one arm of the member and is secured in adjusted position thereon by a set-screw.

In the drawings the folding device is illustrated as engaging two fabric strips in the formation of a six-ply folded structure. When one strip only is to be folded, a filling plate or the like may be connected to the inner face of member F to compensate for the decreased thickness of the material to be operated upon by said member, as will be understood without further explanation.

By means of the above construction a strip or strips of heavy canvas or the like may be accurately folded at any requisite speed. The folding device may be connected to a sewing machine to deliver the folded struo ture to the stitch-forming mechanism, by any suitable means. In the present instance, referring to Fig. 2, the device is provided with a bracket-support 24:, carrying a split collar 25 adapted to be clamped upon a member of the sewing machine, in this instance guide-rod 26. The folding device is held upon the bracket 2% by means of clamp 27 which engages one of the connecting rods 2 and clamps the same between the face of the clamp and the face of the bracket-arm, by means of clamp-screw 28. In Fig, 2 the folding device is shown in position to deliver a folded structure to the stitch-formin g mechanism of a sewing machine through the intermediary of an adjustable worleguide G, which forms no part of my present invention and which does not require detailed description. The folded structure may be delivered to the stitch-forming mechanism of a sewing machine through the intermediary of any suitable work-guide, or directly, as desired.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. The folder comprising a series of metal strips formed with substantially segmental center portions and inwardly turned end portions, the degree of curvature increasing in successive strips toward the delivery end of the folder, means carried by'one of said strips adapted to receive and maintain the edges of the material in alinement at the center thereof, and means including a plurality of connecting rods for holding said strips in spaced relation to each other.

2. The folder comprising a series of metal strips formed with substantially segmental center portions and inwardly turned end portions, the degree of curvature increasing in successive strips toward the delivery end of the folder, means carried by one of said strips adapted to receive and maintain the edges of the material in alinement at the center thereof, means including a plurality of connecting rods for holding said strips in spaced relation to each other, and means whereby the spacing of said strips may be varied.

3. The folder comprising a series of metal strips formed with substantially segmental center portions and inwardly turned end portions, the degree of curvature increasing in successive strips toward the delivery end of the folder, means carried by one of said strips adapted to receive and maintain the edges of the material in alinement at the center thereof, adjustable edge-guides carried by said strips to accommodate material of various widths, and means for holding said strips in spaced relation to each other.

1-. The folder comprising a series of metal strips formed with substantially segmental center portions and inwardly turned end portions, the degree of curvature increasing in successive strips toward the delivery end of the folder, a guide tongue carried by one of said strips and adapted to lead the edges of the material to the center line thereof, plurality of connecting rods for holding said strips in spaced relation to each other, and a member carried at the delivery end of the folder having opposed flat faces and adapted to draw together the spaced walls of the material to fold the latter at its center and at points intermediate its center and its inturned edges.

5. The folder comprising a series of metal strips formed with substantially segmental center portions and inwardly turned end portions, the degree of curvature increasing in successive strips toward the delivery end of the folder, means including a plurality of connecting rods for holding said strips in spaced relation to each other, a tongue carried by the folder and having at its end on opposite faces two substantially U-shaped seats adapted to receive and aline the inturned edges of the material, and a member carried at the delivery end of the folder adapted to compress the walls of said partially folded material.

6. In a folding device, in combination, a series of metal folding members formed with substantially segmental center portions and inwardly turned end portions, the degree of curvature increasing in successive members toward the delivery end of the folder, means for maintaining said members in spaced relation to each other, stop devices for the edges of a primary fabric strip being acted upon by the folder, and means including adjustable edge-guides for receiving and centering a secondary fabric strip with respect to the primary strip.

7. In a folding device, in combination, a series of spaced folding-members comprising segmental center-guide portions adapted to bend a fabric strip on a line extending longitudinally and centrally thereof, and segmental edge-guide portions adapted to inturn each side edge of said strip, the guide portions of successive members decreasing in segmental area to successively increase the degree of fold, a tongue carried by one member to guide the side edges of said strip to a point in proximity to the center thereof and to hold the said edges in alinement, means adapted to draw together the walls of said partially folded strip to impart a final fold centrally thereof and at points intermediate the center and each inturned side edge, and connecting means serving to hold said mem bers in register with each other.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES M. HORTON.

Witnesses:

W. LEE HnLMs, H. A. KORNEMANN, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

